Talk:Japa
By Swami Harshananda
Japa [1] literally means ‘uttering or repetition of the mantra’[2].
It is also defined as that which destroys sins and puts an end to rebirth and derived from the root-verb jap which means ‘to utter’.
Japa has been an integral part of the religious practices from the Vedic days. Ceremonial repetition of Vedic passages has been a part and parcel of not only the Vedic sacrifices but also the post-Vedic rituals. The Bhagavadgitā[3] considers japa as one of the special manifestations of the Lord.
Ways to Practice Japa[edit]
The japa of any mantra can be practiced in three different ways. They are:
- ‘Vācika’ or ‘Vaikharī’ - when it is uttered loudly
- ‘Upāmśu’ - when it is uttered inaudibly like whispering
- ‘Mānasika’ - when it is uttered mentally
Classification of Japa[edit]
There are several classifications of japa and includes:
- Nityajapa - done regularly or everyday like the Gāyatrījapa
- Naimittikajapa - done on special occasions like the periods of eclipses or festivals like Śivarātri
- Kāmyajapa - done for the fulfillment of desires like regaining health or earning wealth
- Prāyaścittajapa - done as an expiation for sins
- Ajapājapa - associated with the process of breathing
- Hamsajapa - It is the japa of mantra ‘so’ham haiñsah’
- Vilomajapa - It is japa in which the mantra is repeated in the reverse order. For example, repeating ‘namas’ śivāya’ as ‘ya vā śśi ma na’. This is generally done in countering black-magical rites
- Likhitajapa - done by writing the mantra
Regulations of Japa[edit]
A code of conduct is advocated before starting japa. These disciplines are as follows:
- Japa should be done observing silence and with devotion
- It should be practiced in a clean and quiet place
- Person doing japa should sit erect on a comfortable seat
- Japa should be done at a medium speed
- Before beginning the japa of a mantra, the disciple is advised to remember the following:
- Ṛṣi : the original sage to whom the mantra was revealed
- Chanda-s : the meter
- Devatā : the deity
- It must be followed by:
- Nyāsa-s : ceremonial purification of the hands and the limbs
- Dhyānaśloka : a verse that describes the form of the deity
- After the completion of japa, japasamarpaṇa[4] must be offered
- A japamālā[5] can be used for counting and can even be done on the fingers
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore